I next tried a (NEW) install with OpenBSD 5.4 snapshot from the Alberta, Canada ftp web link using the openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/i386 and openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/packages/i368.

I use KDE for my Desktop display and only install kdebase-3.5.10p25.tgz as minimal KDE setup.

I had no problems with basic console setup after installation of OpenBSD 5.4 snapshot. The problem started with the installation of kdebase-3.5.10p25.tgz. I did my basic KDE setup as usual. The desktop pops up with text disappearing on my display monitor.

I created a (NEW) xcorg.conf file and copied it to the /etc directory. I am using the "nv" and "vesa" settings from the OpenBSD manual for this configuration. After some experimentation, I noticed that if I change Option "NoAccel" "false" and Option "ShadowFB" "false", I get the text disappearing on my LCD display. Next if I, change Option "NoAccel" "true" and Option "ShadowFB" "false", I get the text appearing on the LCD display. The only problem with this is that the KDE Konqueror Windows display properly, but if moved, they refresh themselves very slowly.

Attachment "xorg.conf_OB54.txt" causes the disappearing text on KDE desktop.
NOTE: It is only a quick modified setup to tweak my graphics card.

I have read on the X.Org Web Site that they decided to take out the "xaa" extension and replacing it with "exa". Noticed that some of the /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions and /usr/X11R6/lib/modules have missing files in OpenBSD 5.4. Read that "exa" only used for Nvidia (nv80) chipsets and upward.

IDEA... Can they not keep both modules in? One for for older and the other for newer systems.

This leads me to the next question.
Why can't OpenBSD 5.4 be backwards compatible with older hardware and newer hardware at the same time? Like backing up to previous older drivers that work with older hardware.

I don't want to buy another Graphics Card if the one I have work great with OpenBSD 5.3.
Question: Is there a work around, tweak or patch for OpenBSD 5.4 for using the Nvidia GeForce4 Ti 4600 - 128MB DDR (AGP 4x).

I've been searching the Internet for a solution, but have not found any helpful information.
Thank you for any ideas on this issue.

The way I see it there was a X implementation in 5.3 and lower that worked well in 2D with Nvidia hardware. Now X renders almost unusable and the situation forces me to tiling WM. However, I have a laptop with Intel and AMD grapchics hardware that works better with 5.4 due to the new implementations.

So the situation is clear for me: keep OpenBSD in the laptop and migrate the desktop to FreeBSD.

Nvidia video cards are not recommended with OpenBSD, since Nvidia doesn't release enough informations to create a correct driver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by www.openbsd.org/i386.html

X Window System support is available for most graphics cards, using the X.Org server. As with other free operating systems it is highly recommended that Nvidia cards are avoided since this vendor continues to show tremendous resistance towards releasing information that would allow X.Org to support their hardware properly.

What I do not understand is why it is not technnicaly posible to keep an already working solution for Nvidia cards, even if the development of new features for them is abandoned.

My understanding is that the culprit was Mesa. The newer intel and radeon drivers needed an updated Mesa library. OpenBSD made the decision to support the more open and widely used drivers.

Quote:

P.S.: Oh, I forgot: 4) NetBSD

In my opinion, Xorg in NetBSD is disjointed. The Xorg implementation that comes with the *.iso/*.img is very old. Modular Xorg installs a newer version with the updated Mesa Library. I am guessing that you are using the older Xorg and if you were to try modular xorg you might experience the same problems.

I learned this the hard way by trying to use NetBSD on an old desknote with a Sis 630 video chip. The Sis driver also broke with the new Mesa libs.

I'm wondering why you don't use FreeBSD. Nvidea provided a FreeBSD driver and has good documentation on how to do it.

You would need an applicable USB driver for whichever OS you wanted to use it with. It's unclear if you are considering this for one of the BSDs, and if so, which one.

Your linked product is supported with drivers for various releases of Windows, only. And if you were thinking of OpenBSD, while there are five MCT products listed in sys/dev/usb/usbdevs, the MCT T2-285A is not one of them.

Thanks LeFrettchen . It is an option, and once I have to buy a graphics card I could take the chance to upgrade performance, so do you know something more powerful and equally fully supported by OpenBSD?

The other option is to keep my GTX 260 and add the HD 5450 to the system. In that case I do not know if OpenBSD will manage having both cards installed.